Barren Earth Discography of CDs

UK two CD collection from the American Nu-Metal/Hard Rock outfit containing 32 of their finest tracks. Includes 'Falling Away From Me', 'All In The Family', 'Word Up!' and many others. Sony. 2011. Recording information: Sonic Pump Studios, Helsinki (05/2011-06/2011). Arranger: Barren Earth. Personnel: Barren Earth (background vocals); Sami Yli-Sirniö (vocals, guitar); Mikko Kotamäki (vocals); Janne Perttila (guitar); Kasper Martenson (keyboards); Marko Tarvonen (drums, percussion). Audio Mixer: Dan Swanö.

This Finnish art-doom band is something of an underground all-star project, featuring members or ex-members of Swallow the Sun, Kreator, Amorphis, Moonsorrow, and Chaosbreed. Some of those bands play rough, guttural thrash/death, and others explore arty, progressive avenues, and Barren Earth lie somewhere in between. They mix clean vocals with death growls in a way Opeth fans will find very familiar, and their riffs and drumbeats crash forward slowly like a boat breaking through ice. Toward the end of this album's opening title track, acoustic guitar and flute break in, and the prog/Opeth feeling grows even stronger. Barren Earth do cultivate their own identity as the album goes on, of course; "Forlorn Waves" mixes a weirdly sea shanty-esque riff with pulsing piano, while the synths on "Ere All Perish" are almost worthy of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and there's an ultra-staccato guitar-and-drums breakdown in the middle of "Cold Earth Chamber" that's both totally unexpected and irresistibly adrenalizing. Most of Barren Earth's core ideas have been done before, by others, but when their generally well-crafted songs come together, it doesn't matter that much. ~ Phil Freeman Recording information: Jive Studios, Helsinki (06/2009-08/2009); Seawolf, Helsinki (06/2009-08/2009). Arranger: Barren Earth. Personnel: Barren Earth (background vocals); Mikko Kotamäki (vocals); Janne Perttila, Sami Yli-Sirniö (guitar); Erno Haukkala (flute); Kasper Martenson (keyboards); Marko Tarvonen (drums). Audio Mixer: Dan Swanö.

Barren Earth albums Track Listing of songs: Our Twightlight; Jewel; Flame Of Serenity; Floodred;